[April 1990 Asiatic Herpetological Research Vol.3, pp. 104-115 Stellio sacra (Smith 1935) a Distinct Species of Asiatic Rock Agamid from Tibet* NATALIA B. ANANJEVA 1 , GUNTHER PETERS 2 , J. ROBERT MACEY 3 AND THEODORE J. PAPENFUSS 3 ^Zoological Institute, USSR Academy of Sciences, Leningrad, USSR ^Museum fur Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universitdt, Invalidenstrasse 43, Berlin, DDR ^Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA Abstract. -An examination of the type series of Agama himalayana sacra Smith (1935) and new material collected in Tibet in 1988 has shown that this form should be considered a distinct species. In following the recent revision of the genus Agama (Moody 1980), Stellio sacra is included in the genus with all other Asiatic rock agamids. Key Words: Reptilia, Sauria, Agamidae, Stellio sacra, Tibet, systematics, distribution. Introduction Four agamid lizards were collected at the beginning of the 20th Century near Lhasa, Tibet. They were described in a short account by Smith (1935) as a subspecies of the Himalayan rock agamid Agama himalayana sacra. The examination of these type specimens and new material collected in Lhasa and the vicinity of Lhasa, Tibet in 1988 by the third and fourth authors, led us to the conclusion that it is not a subspecies of Stellio himalayanus. Furthermore it is not a member of the Stellio himalayanus species complex which includes Stellio badakhshanus, Stellio chernovi, Stellio himalayanus, and Stellio stoliczkanus. The results of the examination of the agamids from Lhasa, Tibet confirm the opinion of Ananjeva et al. (1981) that Stellio sacra should be elevated to full specific status. According to the present revision of the genus Agama (Wermuth 1967) into Agama, Stellio (Moody 1980; Sokolovsky 1975, 1977) Trapelus, Psuedotrapelus, and Xenagama (Moody 1980) the lizards examined from Tibet should have the generic name, Stellio. * Sino-Soviet-American Arid Asian Desert Regions Research Paper no. 5. Methods To the best of our knowledge all specimens housed outside the Peoples Republic of China were examined. Of the four specimens in the type series, one lectotype and two paralectotypes are housed at the British Museum (Natural History) [BMNH], and one paralectotype is housed at the Indian Museum, Calcutta (Zoological Survey of India [ZSI]). Thirteen additional specimens were collected during the 1988 joint Chengdu Institute of Biology -University of California Expedition and are housed at the California Academy of Sciences (CAS). Stellio sacra (Smith 1935), new combination Known Material Material Examined: Lectotype: BMNH 1946.8.28.57 (formerly 1904.12.28.1) [Fig. 1.] Locality: Near Lhasa, Tibet. Paralectotypes: BMNH 1946.8. 28.58, BMNH 1946.8.28.59 [Fig. 2], and ZSI 15740 [Fig. 3]. Locality: near Lhasa, Tibet. CAS 170545. Locality: Elev. 3740 m, Sera Monastery, Lhasa (29° 39' N 91° fr\ 1 fifin u.,
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